yeah what are you using for your 12" leader?? Also fish shallower water along grass shore lines if looking for reds.

if you want to catch trout stay away from squid...If you want to catch catfish with the occasional drum or redfish keep using it

all you u need to catch trout


1/4oz plan jig head and sparkle beetle....out fish any bait on the water....

10lb test line ,,,

Exactly
 

This is what I was getting at. It will catch fish, but drum, croaker, etc more likely to eat it than trout or reds.

Chas hit the leader part I was talking about.

What kind of boat do you fish out of? What is your schedule like for fishing?

After rereading Chas post. What are you using for a leader?

Well. I got some of those 12" shiney steel leaders with a num 3 circle hook.
put a piece os Squid on it with braided 50lb line.
Figured that would hold anything.
i took some advice from ckunkin yesterday and removed the big weight and put a 1/4 oz on there. caught alot of croker but no reds.
i must of hit a nest of croaker, cause they were biting the squid each throw, 2 sec after hit water.
I try to fish as much as I can but mostly on weekends im free.

meaux, i posted my last horror story with catfish.
Them jokers will stick the crap out of ya.
trying to avoid them like the plague.

Okay, do away with the steel leaders. Reds will eat with the steel and some trout, but not near as many as would mono. Also, fresh dead or live shrimp would be a better choice or live finger mullet.

I would suggest you try a glow gulp 3" shrimp on a 1/8 oz lead head and a popping cork about 2.5' deep. Pop the cork about every 5 seconds with a quick snap of the wrist. You are trying so simulate a fish hitting on top of the water with the cork.

You work 8 - 5, 5 days a week? Off on weekends or weekdays?

Some of the guy's here would probably bring you fishing if you are avaialble when they go and they have an opening on the boat. I post when I have an opening all the time.

What kind of boat you got?

You sound about like me rookie, made few trips but only come back with about 3 fish between the three of us, looks like some good advice here on this thread, even though I have not done to good yet I am hooked on this fishing, I had fished freshwater all my life also but this is so much better.

Good luck, keep posting your results and I will do the same, hopefully we can get this figured out.

Bret:cheers:

just started myself have learned a lot and give that credit to the two guys above jchief and kenner 18 thanks to both of these guys

just started my self i have to give credit to the guys above jchief and kenner 18 catching now your right there is a difference in fishing and catching i like catching

Ok what kind of fish are you trying to catch , reds,specs,flounder or just anything ? What kind of boat are you fishing out of and where are you fishing?

I have a 15' Astro Fiberglass bass boat.
Not much, but my little 75 moves swift at 45 tops.
I work during the week but weekends im off, when I dont have a "honey doo" list to complete.
I try to catch redfish(favorite) or something big enough to eat.

just like the thrill of the bite.
something about the unknow pull.
is it a redfish, is it a catfish(most likely) is it a flounder..
is it a little crab pulling at the bait.
excitement of it really.
plus they taste good.

yep...switch to 20 lb mono leader instead of steel. Use jig head and sparkle beatle "W" showed. Or use fresh dead or live shrimp like jchief said. Switching to those things should greatly improve your chances.

And I can't beleive this hasn't been mentioned yet, but if you happen to come across a flock of birds working the water. Use your trolling motor! Don't crowd someone if they are already fishing the birds. Throw that sparkle beetle in there or a sand eel. Usually trout under the birds, easy targets.

Rgr that.
20lb mono leader.
havent seen those in wal mart or anywhere.
I have to check out sports academy or something.

The don't sell them. Make your own out of fluorocarbon.

Maybe it just me......but I don't every use a "leader". I tie all my baits directly to the 12 lb mono line that I use.

When I catch several fish, I carefully check the line near the bait to see if it has any "nicks". If I feel a bad spot, I cut off a little bit of line and re-tie.

I do the same